ELECTRIC VEHICLES. The equipment of the modern electric automobile consists of a storage battery for supplying the current, the motor for transforming this current into mechanical power, and the controller for regulating the speed of the motor. In most electric vehicles, two motors or a double-motor drive are em ployed, the motor being either supported on the rear axle or on the reach. The battery is either plaecd in a case hung under the body of the vehicle or else inside the body. The motors and other moving parts are placed in dust-proof cases. The efficiency of the battery is of course the most important consideration, and its dete rioration with service has to be borne in mind in such commercial applications as automobiles. In 1902 the batteries then in use were considered to be good for 5000 miles by observing ordinary pre cautions in charging and use. In America elec tric power has been applied to a great variety of vehicles, including, besides pleasure carriages of various types, delivery wagons, cabs, omnibuses, and trucks. Since 1900 in America 20-passenger omnibuses and heavy trucks with double electric motor drives have been constructed and are in active use. See STORAGE BATTERY; DYNAMO ELEernic 1\ IA CII INERY.
The speed attained by the automobiles has been and is being enormously increased, and it is in.
this respect that there have been the most re markable developments. These have progressed from time to time, so that at present the horse less carriage rivals modern express trains in the speed of its travel, while it is also able to oper ate for long distances, requiring supplies of fuel and water in a manner similar to the railway locomotive. One reason for the rapid develop ment of speed which has come about. has been the adoption of the automobile as a means of recreation by individuals, who have arranged various tests of speed and endurance. As a re sult of the many races which have been held, there have been great increases made in both speed and power, so that the modern racing auto mobile is supplied with motors far in excess of any practical needs, the sole aim being to develop the highest possible speed. Whereas machines of 4, and 5-horse power can be employed for ordinary work, racing machines in which as much as 90 or 100-horse power is produced have been constructed. Long-distance road-racing, as well as tests on regular courses, have been ex tremely popular until restricted by legislative regulations. and wonderfully high speeds have been developed for considerable distances. In
1897, in the Paris-Trouville road race, a speed of 29 miles an hour was attained, and in subsequent races as high a rate as 50 or 60 miles an hour has been reached. If the machine is built for speed, there are, of course, other matters to he taken into consideration than if it were merely employed in ordinary touring, and racing ma chines, even now, are constructed in distinct types. If such a machine is constructed to run comparatively short distances on a level and well-surfaced road, a mile may be accomplished in from 40 to 60 seconds. In 1901, in races or speed tests. a mile was traversed by automobiles in times varying but little from a minute: and in one instance seconds was the time record ed over a measured course. Tests of endurance between New York and Buffalo have also been held, in which marry machines have participated, while an important race was held in 1901 from Paris to Berlin, a distance of 745 miles, which was traversed by the winning machine in 17 hours minutes. Racing on public highways, however, has been discountenanced both in Eu rope and America, and such races in many cases have been forbidden by legislative enactment and governmental decree.
The manufacture of automobiles has become an important industry, the greatest work having been done in the construction of vehicles for tour ing and recreation: and for this purpose numer ous factories have been established, both in the 1"nited States and in Europe. There are many clubs which arrange tours and races, and seek to promote the construction of good roads and fur ther the rights of the antomobilists on the high way. From time to time large exhibitions are held to show the progress of the industry, and there is a growing literature. as well as a num ber of journals, devoted to the subject. While the use and construction of automobiles has be come so extensive. yet it cannot be asserted posi tively that a perfect motor vehicle has been developed. The mechanics of automobile con struction have made wonderful progress in recent years, yet there are many problems whose solu tion remains for the future. The early history of steam vehicles, in common with that of other forms of steam-engines, will be found in Thurs ton, A History of the Growth of the Steam En gine (New York, 1901). For a comprehensive descriptive treatise on automobiles, consult Beaumont, Motor Vehicles and _Motors (London, 1901).